-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Huddled around a table for hours , a handful of top journalists at CNN 's political unit has been poring over YouTube videos by the thousands .

The Republican hopefuls will face off Wednesday in the CNN/YouTube debate .

It 's a laborious process , but it 's necessary to ensure the best questions make the cut for the CNN/YouTube debate between Republican presidential hopefuls in St. Petersburg , Florida , which will take place Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET .

`` The questions are funny . Some of them are striking . Some of them are sad . They are incredibly meaningful , '' said Sam Feist , CNN 's political director . `` You watch hundreds of these questions and you really get a sense of what 's on people 's minds . ''

The CNN producers have viewed more than 3,500 video submissions from people around the world . They 'll continue sifting through more , through the submission deadline of November 25 , right up to the debate . Only about 40 will pass muster . Watch some of the questions sent in so far ''

It 's only the second time such a debate has taken place -- Democratic candidates duked it out in a similar format this past summer . That debate christened YouTube as a venue for prodding politicians and a way to get the public involved .

While the GOP debate will also face a YouTube audience , do n't expect to hear the same questions .

`` This debate is to let Republican voters pick from among their eight candidates , '' said David Bohrman , Washington bureau chief and senior vice president for CNN . `` We are trying to focus mostly on questions where there are differences among these candidates . ''

The White House hopefuls -- accustomed to the political tradition of stump speeches followed by queries from journalists -- have no idea exactly what to expect .

`` There is some sense of the unknown and so they 're going to be a little bit out of their normal comfort zone , which is a good thing , '' Bohrman said .

Each of the eight GOP hopefuls will answer to real people displayed on a 25-foot screen -LRB- or their animated creations , as witnessed in the Democratic debate -RRB- . The candidates will have to deal with the person asking the question as if that person were in the room .

`` They really need to relate to these as people because they are very human . They are somebody somewhere who 's taken the time to submit these questions , '' Bohrman said .

And some of those submitters will be in the room -- creators of some of the most compelling questions will be flown to St. Petersburg to watch the debate in person and offer reactions afterward .

The user-generated format marks a major step toward involving people in the process of selecting a nominee . It 's also changed the way people view presidential debates .

Unless someone happened to be in an Iowa farmhouse or a New Hampshire coffee shop , having an impact on the nominating process was `` impenetrable '' to outsiders Bohrman said , referring to the first two states to hold caucuses or a primary .

That 's no longer the case because questions asked during the Democratic CNN/YouTube debate continue to resonate on the campaign trail , according to Feist .

`` We 've really begun to find a way for people around the country and even around the world to play a significant role in the process . There 's no going back from this . It may not look like this in 2012 , but I think never again will there be no participation from the public , '' Bohrman said .

So will any stars be born during this week 's debate , like when Billiam the Snowman made a guest appearance during the Democratic debate ? Will Jackie Broyles and Dunlap be back with the Red State update ?

CNN 's political unit is keeping the questions a secret , but those selecting them say viewers should be prepared for presentations that are funny , questions that are poignant and a format that is unprecedented for the GOP .

`` I 'm not going to give you any hints about what sorts of questions we 're going to pick or we 're not going to pick , '' Feist said .

`` There are plenty of animated figures out there , there are certainly some funny questions , but more importantly , there are hundreds , if not thousands of really , really good , solid questions from real people on real issues . '' E-mail to a friend

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CNN/YouTube GOP presidential debate is Wednesday , 8 p.m.

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Candidates face some of the thousands of questions sent in via YouTube

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User-generated format allows people to become players in the nominating process

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Questions can be submitted through November 25